Elastic stocking and method of producing same



1955 L. J. JENARD ET AL ELASTIC STOCKING AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1, 1950 M ENVENTORS flscar Jrggizolle Zewmrd JJZ'nara 40 AA-1L 1 ATTORNEYS 1955 L. J. JENARD ET AL 2,721,464

ELASTIC STOCKING AND METHOD OF PRQDUCING SAME Filed July 1, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 0.5 CAR FREGEOLLE BY LEONARD JJENARD 19mm W ATTORNEYS Oct. 25, 1955 J. JENARD ET AL 2,721,464

ELASTIC STOCKING AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME Filed July 1, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS 03m) 772. all/e By [wizard Inward United States Patent ELASTIC STOCKING AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAIWE Leonard J. Jenard, Pawtucket, and Oscar Fregeolle, Central Falls, R. L, assignors to Harcourt Knitting Company, Pawtucket, R. 1., a corporation of Rhotle Island Application July 1, 1950, Serial No. 171,708

6 Claims. (Cl. 66-184) This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved stocking and especially elastic or surgical stocking; the present invention also embracing the method of manufacturing such a stocking.

It is a primary object of the invention to produce an elastic stocking which will have a pleasing and sheer appearance and which will therefore not require the use of a covering stocking. A unit embodying the present teachings will be free from objections to bunching and wrinkling and aside from being relatively inexpensive will have a full fashioned appearance. Additionally, the stocking will exert a substantially even and comfortable tension throughout its entire effective length so that the limb portions will be evenly supported.

Still another object is that of teaching a method which may be practiced by the machine and by means of which the stocking may be produced. This method will permit of the rapid and economical production of stockings having a long effective life and which stockings will be more desirable than stockings produced according to more expensive techniques.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheets of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the invention, and in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view of a grouping of apparatus providing an accessory assembly or attachment for a knitting machine which may otherwise embrace more or less conventional structure;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front view of such a machine and assembly;

Fig. 3 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged side viewof a portion of the assembly as especially shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic representation of the stocking which is produced; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are greatly enlarged fragmentary views of portions of the stocking body.

In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive the apparatus has been illustrated as incorporating an attachment or accessory assembly to be operatively connected to a more or less standard type of knitting machine such as may be purchased on the open market. In many respects it is preferred that the present teachings be thus employed in that with only minimum expense and minor modifications of the knitting machine the apparatus will function in an eminently satisfactory manner. However, it will be understood that in lieu of incorporating the machine parts in an assembly largely provided as an attachment to a standard machine, that machine itself could be modified to incorporate the desired structure.

Thus, referring primarily to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 it will be seen that the body or frame of a standard machine has been indicated by the numeral 10 and from which a support 11 extends upwardly. Suitably secured upon this support is a head 12 mounting a platform 13 at the end of a bracket portion 14. Rotatively disposed between the arms of such bracket portion is a shaft 15 which may be driven by a pulley 16. Also secured to shaft 15 are thread-feeding wheels 17 and 18. The latter are preferably of a design such as has been shown especially in Fig. 1 and including apertured side walls with the bars thread under certain operating conditions.

or material of adjacent walls bent to extend in the direction of or actually into the annular series of apertures in the opposed wall. Wheels of this type embody the functional desirable characteristics of effectively feeding However, should the movement of the thread be interrupted while rotation of the wheel is continuing, then the thread will ride out of the crotch or gripping portion of the wheel so that relative movements of the latter surfaces of such wheel and the thread may occur without damage to the latter.

A support 19 extends downwardly from the machine head. Conveniently a mounting is provided at 20. This suports a member 20 which may extend in a substantially horizontal direction. Mounted upon this supporting sur- 1 20. Therefore, plate face is a fixed plate 21 with the operating edge of which a plate 22 cooperates by being pivotally mounted as at 23 upon a support 24 afiixed to the platform 20.. Plate 22 may form a part of or have attached to it an arm 25. The latter is conveniently provided with an offset end portion 26. Also secured to plate 22 or forming a part of the same is an arm 28 which moves with that plate. A spring 27 has one of its ends attached to this arm 28 and its opposite end is secured to the platform or support 22 is normally urged to a position such as has been shown in full lines in Fig. 4.

A yarn take-up lever in the form of a wire 29 and relatively heavy rear portion is also pivotally mounted as at 30 by the platform 20. The rear portion of the lever is continued beyond the point mounting 30 and has secured to it a spring 31 to which a cord or tensioning member 32 is attached. An eyelet or ring-shaped guide 33 is secured to the outer end of wire 29. A plate 34 is mounted on the upper face of platform 20 and provided with a pair of openings 35 acting as thread guides. Platform 20 is also formed with openings 36 to 39 inclusive adjacent its outer end and serving similar functions as will hereinafter appear.

The machine proper includes a suitable drive such as has been indicated at 40. By means of this drive the cam drum 41 is caused to rotate. Also the several other operating parts of the machine are caused to function in usual and accepted manners. Rotated by drive 40 is a shaft 42. Secured to rotate with this shaft is a pulley 43 of the Reeves type. A spring (not shown) normally maintains the parts of this pulley in a position where a maximum diameter of the latter is assured in the drive of a cable or otherconnecting device 44. That cable extends around pulley 16 of shaft 15. A control in the nature of a bell crank lever 45 bears against the hub assembly 46 of pulley 43. A follower 47 bears against bell crank lever 45. When this follower is projected upwardly as viewed in Fig. 2 it causes lever 45 to be rocked to shift assembly 46 and reduce the operative driving diameter of pulley 43. To effect this result an operating cam 48 forms a part of the drum assembly 41 and is giysposed in a position where it cooperates with follower In order to control the operation of lever 29 by tensioning and releasing the cord or connector 32 a cam 49 is conveniently coupled to drum 41. This cam cooperates with the follower portion 50 of a lever 51 pivotally'supported as at 52 by the frame of the machine. The lower end of the connecting member or cord 32 is attached to the outer end of lever 51. It is therefore obvious that when cam 49 rotates to engage and shift follower portion 50, lever 51 will rock to exert a pull on cord 32'to elevate the end or arm of lever 29 which carries the eyelet 33. It is apparent in this connection that under certain circumstances it might be unnecessary to include a spring 3'1 inth'e coupling assembly. For example the cord 32 Ce Patented Oct. 25, 1955 might be elastic or the parts might be proportioned and arranged so that this tensioning provision is unnecessary. However ordinarily some yielding should be incorporated in the connection.

As the forward arm of lever 29 rises it will permit of a similar movement on the part of arm 25. This will be because the offset end portion 26 of the latter arm engages the underface of lever arm 29 and is urged into such engagement by spring 27. Accordingly, as arm 25 rises, plate 22 will be swung to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4 and in which it cooperates with plate 21 to prevent the passage or feed of a yarn disposed in operative position with respect to these plates.

Additional yarn locking devices are mounted upon the support or platform 13. These conveniently include fixed plates 53 with which plates 54 cooperate to provide a yarn-clamping structure. Plates 54 are secured to or form part of arms 55 pivotally mounted as at 56. Springs 57 cooperate with arms 55 to normally raise the latter and thus bring the plates 54 into cooperative relationship with plates 53. Under these circumstances a movement of yarn through these assemblies is prevented. To the rear of plates 53 and 54 platform 13 may be provided with eyelets 58 for the passage of yarn.

Connecting elements such as wires or cords 59 and 59 may extend from the ends of arms 55 opposite those supporting plates 54 in a downward direction. At their lower ends these connecting elements are coupled to cam levers 60 and 61 as shown especially in Figs. 2 and 3. These levers are caused to function by cooperation with cam portions forming a part of the drum assembly 41. As afore brought out springs 57 normally tend to shift arms 55 to positions at which a clamping or arresting action of plates 53 and 54 occur. However when levers 60 and 61 move downwardly they will carry with them the lower ends of connectors 59 and 59'. Therefore, the outer ends of arms 55 will be swung downwardly against the action of springs 57 to freely permit of the passage of yarn past the plates 53 and 54.

From the foregoing it will be understood a circular type knitting machine has been generally shown and that the apparatus providing for the functions herein desired is in the nature of attachments or accessory assemblies to be associated with such a machine. Obviously, and as afore brought out, the several mechanical parts necessary to produce the desired functions herein contemplated could be incorporated as part of the machine and that machine could be of a type difierent than herein shown. In order to avoid unnecessary and confusing illustration, various conventional parts such as the cylinder, sinkers, needles, etc. which form a part of the machine have not been illustrated. However, the yarn levers have been generally indicated in Fig. 1 under the reference numeral 62.

A stocking constructed in accordance with the present teachings has been somewhat schematically shown in Fig. 5. That stocking will include a welt portion 63, a thigh and calf encircling portions 64 and angle portion 65, a foot portion 66, a ring-toe portion 67, a toe portion 68 and a heel portion 69. The portions 64, 65, 66 and 69 will be formed of elastic yarn the core of which will be colored to embody a tint corresponding to that of the finished stocking. The yarn will be composed approximately of 58% nylon and 42% core with an elongation of, for example, between 100 and 115%. This will assure sufficient width and strength being incorporated in the fabric without having the resultant unit embodying too much bulk. The welt portion 63, the ringtoe portion 67 and toe portion 68 are conveniently formed of nylon thread, cotton thread, or a mixture of cotton and nylon with the nylon thread outside of the cotton. It is especially preferred that the welt portion be formed of such a mixture.

Returning to a consideration of Figs. 1 to 4, the nu-. merals 70 and 70' indicate the elastic yarns as afore described which pass through the arresting or locking structures provided by plates 53 and 54 and thence through the eyelets 58 over the feed wheels 17 and 18. Thereafter, yarn 70' passes directly through opening 35 of plate 34 and so through opening 36 to its yarn lever 62. Yarn 70 passes from its feed wheel through a guide, then over plate 21, through the openings of plate 22 and eyelet 33 to its yarn lever or feeder. The yarns are fed from bobbins or spools, providing a source of supply. The inelastic yarns have been indicated at 71. They pass through eyes 37 and 39 of the support or plate the yarn 70 incorporating elastic properties passes through the eye 33 extending through the opening 38. The mechanism for feeding and controlling the inelastic yarns has not been shown. Sufiice to say it may embody any desired and acceptable construction.

Two elastic yarns are used. This is because of the desirability of having a heel formed of a yarn more resistant to abrasion than the yarn providing the leg and foot portions. Conveniently the leg yarn 70 is composed of a 100 core covered with two ends of 40 denier nylon yarn. The heel yarn 70 may also be composed of a 100 core but covered with two ends of 70 denier nylon yarn. Different non-elastic yarns are also preferably employed. In this connection it will be understood that the yarn providing the welt portion of the stocking should not be too heavy but at the same time should embody a certain amount of stretch. Conversely the non-elastic yarn providing the toe should have a high abrasion value and be relatively inelastic.

Before considering the operation of the apparatus as afore described it Will be noted that as in Fig. 3 cam 48 has been shown as including portions C to G inclusive. Likewise as in Fig. 5 various zones of the stocking have been identified by similar reference letters. Thus, in the latter view, A indicates the end edge or zone of the welt portion 63. B indicates generally the zone of termination of the inelastic yarn with which zone a flare is favored. From B to C a portion of generally constant width is present. From C to D the stocking is tapered to provide a calf portion. From D to E an ankle portion of substantially constant width is provided and at F the heel portion is present.

With the machine set up as shown and the yarn in position it will be understood that elastic threads 70 and 70' will not be fed. This will be because the cams on drum 41 have raised levers 60 and 61. Therefore the connectors 59 and 59 will have permitted arms to elevate under the influence of springs 57 to clamp the elastic yarns against movement. In the interim, however, inelastic yarn strands 71 will continue to feed and operate to form loop portionsproviding the desired welt 63. Upon reaching zone B both the elastic and inelastic yarns will be fed to assure a zone of overlap and connection between these parts of the stocking. At this moment mechanisms which control a feeding of the inelastic yarn 71 will function to interrupt further feed of the latter.

Up to zone C cam 48 will not cooperate with follower 47 to reduce the drive effected by the pulley 43. Therefore, a maximum operative diameter of the latter will be presented. Accordingly, shaft 15 and feed wheels 17 and 18 will rotate at maximum speed. With the initiation of this operation levers and 61 will have lowered to exert tension on connecting elements 59 and 59'. Therefore, plates 54 will have swung out of operative association with plates 53. Accordingly a free feeding of elastic yarn strand may occur. With feed wheels 17 and 1-8 rotating at maximum speed, the loops of thread forming the courses of the stocking will have their greatest widthwise and lengthwise dimensions. Such a result has been shown in Fig. 6; This will continue from zone B to zone .C. Therefore, throughout this portion of the stocking, each course of knitting embraces a maximum ya n. length.

As particularly shown inIFig. 3, 48 presents a tapered surface of gradually increasing width which continues through to point D. As a consequence of this portion, follower 47 is gradually shifted to cooperate with the hub assembly 46 of pulley 43'to decrease the efiective drive diameter of the latter. Therefore shaft 15 will be gradually rotated at slower speeds which will also be true of the yarns transmitted by feed wheels 17 and 18. Accordingly, the stocking will be narrowed down' as has been indicated between C and D in Fig. 5. At

point D and from that point through to E the rate at which the yarn is delivered to the needles is, relatively quite slow. Therefore a minimum width is incorporated in the ankle portion of the stocking. In this connection and returning to Fig. 3, it will be observed that cam 48 is of uniform height between these points D and G.

Continued rotation of cam drum 41 causes the heel spring cam 49 to cooperate with the rear portion 50 of lever 51 thereby swinging the latter around its pivot and exerting tension upon, the connecting element 32. This will cause the outer end of lever arm 29 to be moved downwardly thereby raising eyelet 33 and permitting arm 25 under the influence of spring 27 to elevate. Under these circumstances plates 21 and 22 will cooperate to arrest further movement of elastic yarn 70. Simultaneously levers 60 and 61 are shifted. This will cause the tension on connecting wires or cables 59 and '59 to be released. Therefore plates 53 and 54 will, move into thread-engaging relationship.

As afore brought out yarn 70 is the thread which forms the leg and foot portions of the stocking. It is fed directly from the feed wheel through eyes 35 and 36 and the yarn feeder 62 with which it is associated. When moving this yarn shifts under a straight away motion. Under these circumstances yarn 70 is locked by its clamping plates 53 and 54; such yarn being used only during reciprocatory knitting. Plates 53 and 54 cooperate to lock the yarn only if lever 62 is inoperative. Therefore,

Under the circumstances thus described, it will be seen that the yarn necessary for the reverse movement of the lever is supplied from the slack in the bight referred to,

i. e. from the slack generated by the reciprocating action itself. There being no feed of yarn at that time from the feed wheel 17 such yarn as is needed for the operation is supplied from the slack at a substantially constant tension. If the amount of slack is not sulficient to supply the amount necessary on any reverse movement of the reciprocator, the increase of tension when the slack is exhausted immediately pulls the eye 33 and lever 29 down. This results in an unlocking of plates 21 and 22. As soon as the yarn is released, the tension on the yarn causes it to be operatively engaged and shifted by the wheel 17 so that the feeding operation is resumed. In this manner a heel portion 69 is provided. Such portion will incorpo rate an amount of material in excess of that required to fill in the area of the heel portion. This excess is evidenced by the heel part of the stocking bulging to a slight extent when that stocking is not applied to the foot of the wearer. When so applied the heel portion is stretched and serves as an elastic constricting surface which will draw all adjacent parts of the stocking into firm contact with the foot, instep and ankle surfaces. At the completion of the heel forming operation the foot portion of the stocking is provided. This occurs incident to feeding the elastic yarns at minimum speed by the wheel 18 because the follower 47 has shifted the parts of the pulley 43 to a position of minimum effective driving diameter. As

there will be no tendency of the yarn to feed after the plates have shifted to locked position. As will be understood the connecting element 59 controls the shifting of the plates.

At this point the unit which functions to supply yarns back and forth over less than the full bank of needles is brought into operation. During reciprocation thereof in one direction the yarn is under tension. During reverse movement there is a considerable amount of slack in the yarn which must be taken up. In a machine which is working on inelastic yarn the take-up of slack is accomplished by suitable tension devices. However, these devices cannot be used with elastic yarn because that yarn cannot be controlled by variations in tension. It is for this reason that in the present machine the locking plates 21 and 22 are provided. During the forward movement of the unit the yarn is being drawn to the needles and is under a sufiicient tension to flex the wire arm of lever 29 downwardly. This flexion will result in a sufficient strain being exerted to cause a partial swinging of the lever around pivot 30. Consequently arm 25 will be depressed to move plate 22 out of clamping relationship with plate 21.

It will be appreciated that the tension necessary to accomplish this result is not extreme. This is because of the fact that the parts are relatively quite light. Therefore, no appreciable stretch in the yarn will be necessary to achieve the desired tension. The tension exerted by spring 31 is so light that the yarn need be tensioned to only a slight degree over its normal condition to cause a movement of plate 22. During reverse movement of lever 29 a considerable amount of slack will occur. Accordingly, spring 31 will swing lever 29 so that eyelet 33 assumes its uppermost position. This will take up the slack in a bight of yarn extending from the eyelet 35..of. plate. 34 to the take-up eye 33.

in Fig. 3 this portion of cam 48 is represented as the zone extending from parts F to G. Under these circumstances it will be understood that a minimum feed occurs and the stocking will therefore have its most reduced diameter.

As the machine functions to initially form the heel the lever 60 is shifted by its cam. Gradually the yarn lever 62 producing the leg portion of the stocking discontinues its operation. As soon as the yarn is out of association with the needles, the clamps controlling the locking of the feeding of yarn 70 function. The motion of lever 60 is adequate to provide for this result. Under these circumstances lever 61 is shifted and the yarn lever 62 controlling yam 70 moves into feeding position. It follows that the clamping elements 53 and 54 cooperating with that yarn are out of engagement. As will be understood levers 60 and 61 thus control not alone certain of yarn levers but also the clamps which allow for arrest of feeding of yarn 70 and 70'.

Characteristic of the loops forming the courses throughout, for example, the ankle and foot portions of the stocking is the illustration in Fig. 7. As will be seen in that figure in comparison with Fig. 6 the same number of loops have been included in each course. However, the overall height and width of the resultant sections is appreciably different. This, of course, is attributable to the fact that the amount of yarn in each course as represented in Fig. 7 is substantially less than that present in each course of the fabric as illustrated in Fig. 6.

At the point indicated by the letter H in Fig. 5, the knitting of the elastic yarn is stopped. This occurs incident to the fact that lever 60 moves upwardly at this moment. Therefore the arm 55 cooperating with yarn 70 may swing upwardly and interrupt further feeding of that yarn. At this moment lever moves upwardly, lever 61 having moved upwardly at the termination of the heel zone. Due to the heavier yarn employed throughout this zone, the excess heel material results which provides the bulge portion, as afore described, despite the fact that the loops throughout the heel portion are relatively tight in comparison with the loops throughout the self-encircling portion of the sheath. The unit being formed on a circular knitting machine, it is of course apparent that in effect the same aggregate number of loops will be present in any given course throughout the heel .plus the adjacentiinterrupted course of the'sheath, as exist throughout the remaining courses of the latter. Inelastic yarn 71 now is .fed towards (the needlesand the latter operates in conventional fashion to produce the toe portion 68 and the adjacent ring-toe portion 67.

It will be appreciated that by means of the present invention .a stocking embodying an exceptional degree of fashioning may be produced by employing nylon covered elastic yarn. A stocking made of such yarn has an appearance. comparable to that of a conventional nylon stocking. Furthermore, the fashioning is such as to produce a substantially uniform pressure on all parts of the wearers leg. Due to the provision of the elastic heel portion not alone is it possible to provide a stocking having a pleasing appearance but also the adjacent portions of the stocking are maintained in firm, proper contact with the adjacent surfaces of the foot and ankle.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically afore noted are achieved. Obviously numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts as well as the steps of the method might be resorted. to without departing from the spirit of the invention as-defined by the claims.

Weclaim:

1. A method of forming a stocking which includes utilizing two different elastic yarns, forming a sheath from one of said yarns by providing courses of loops, maintaining the number, height and Width of such loops for a number of courses to provide a leg-encircling portion of substantially constant diameter, gradually diminishing the height and width of such loops to provide a calf-encircling portion of decreasing diameter, maintaining the formation of courses with loops of diminished height and width to provide ankle and foot-encircling portions while continuing to provide the same number of loops in each course throughout the leg, calf, ankle and foot-encircling portions of said stocking, interrupting part of the formation of the sheath in a zone intermediate the foot and ankle-encircling portions, interconnecting the second elastic yarn with the loops of the first elastic yarn adjacent an edge of such zone, forming the second elastic yarn into loops arranged in courses throughout such zone to provide. an integral elastic heel portion and in continuing the loop formation of such second yarn to furnish an excess of heel material such that the latter distends beyond the other portions of the stocking throughout the heel zone.

2. Amethod of forming a stocking which includes utilizing two different non-elastic yarns and two difierent elastic yarns, employing one of said inelastic yarns to form courses of loops to provide a welt for such stocking, forming a sheath from one of said elastic yarns by connecting said one elastic yarn with said welt and providing courses of loops of said one elastic yarn, maintaining the number, height and width of such loops for a number of courses to provide a leg-encircling portion of substantially constant diameter, gradually diminishing the heightand width of such loops to provide a calf-encircling portion of decreasing diameter, maintaining the formation of courses with loops of diminished height and Width to provide ankle and foot-encircling portions while continuing to provide the same number of loops in each course throughout the leg, calf, ankle and foot-encircling portions of said stocking, interrupting part of the formation of the sheath in a zone intermediate the foot and ankle-encircling portions, interconnecting the second elastic yarn with the loops of the first elastic yarn adjacent an edge of such zone, forming the second elastic yarn into loops arranged in courses throughout such zone to provide an integral. heel portion, continuing the loop formation of the second elastic yarn to furnish an excess of; heel material such. that the latter distends beyond the other portions of the stocking throughout the heel. zone, discontinuing the formation of. loops by both of said elastic -yar;ns, -connectil thesecondinelastic yarn prior to such discontinuing adjacent the edge-10f" the foot portion of.

8 said sheath and forming courses of loops by means of said second inelastic yarn to furnish a toe portion.

3. An elastic stocking including a sheath formed of one elastic yarn and embracing leg, calf, ankle and footencircling portions, loops arranged in courses throughout the length of said sheath, the loops in any given course being of the same number and the dimensions of saidloops being varied to correspondingly vary the diameter of said sheath throughout the calf portion, the courses of loops of said yarn being partially interrupted intermediate said ankle and foot-encircling portions, a second elastic yarn arranged in loops providing courses secured adjacent the edges of said sheath defining the interruption to provide a heel, the loops of said second yarn being relatively tight in comparison with the loops providing the other portions of said sheath and-the guage of said second yarn being heavier than that of said first-named yarn.

4. An .elastic stocking including a sheath formed-of one elastic yarn and embracing leg, calf, ankle and foot-encircling portions, loops arranged in courses throughout the length of said sheath, the loops in any given course being of the same number and the dimensions of said loops being varied to correspondingly vary the diameter of said sheath throughout the calf, the courses of loops of said yarn being partially interrupted intermediate said ankle and foot-encircling portions, a second elastic yarn arranged in loops providing courses secured adjacent the edges of said sheath defining the interruption to provide an elastic heel portion.

5. An elastic stocking including a sheath formed of one elastic yarn and embracing leg, calf, ankle and foot-encircling portions, loops arranged in courses throughout the length of said sheath, the loops in any given course being .of the same number and the dimensions of said loops being varied to correspondingly vary the diameter of said sheath throughout certain of such portions, the courses of loops of said yarn being interrupted intermediate said ankle and foot-encircling portions, a second elastic yarn of a diameter greater than said one elastic yarn and arranged in loops providing courses secured adjacent the edges of said sheath defining the interruption to provide a heelportion of bulged configuration, and a Welt and toe forming a part of said stocking and provided of loops of non-elastic yarn secured to the ends of said sheath.

6. An elastic stocking including a sheath formed of one elastic yarn and embracing leg, calf, ankle and foot-encircling portions, loops arranged in courses throughout the length of said sheath, the loops in any given course being of the same number and the dimensions of said loops being varied to correspondingly vary the diameter of said sheath throughout certain of such portions, the courses of loops of said yarn being interrupted intermediate said ankle and foot-encircling portions, a second elastic yarn arranged in loops providing courses secured adjacent the edges of said sheath defining the interruption to provide a heel portion of bulged configuration, a welt and toe forming a part of said stocking and formed respectively of non-elastic yarns having different characteristics and the loops of such non-elastic yarns being securedto said sheath at opposite ends thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 243,787 Nelson July 5, 1881 2,013,396 Adamson Sept. 3, 1935 2,169,203 Hinchlitf Aug; 8, 1939 2,169,204 Hinchliff Aug. 8, 1939 2,217,225 Lawson et al. Oct. 8, 1940 2,218,413 Bell Oct. 15, 1940 2,300,808 Reed Nov. 3, 1942 2,441,118 Boucraut May 4, 1948 2,441,443 Reed May 11, 1948 2,474,894 Gottschalck: n .r- July 5, 1949 2,574,737 Goodchild Nov. 13, 1951 

